Ultrasound treatment device

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for treatment of an organ or tissue of a living being. The device comprises at least one treatment transducer for emission of ultrasound waves, preferably high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves, focusable on a focal point within or on the surface of said organ or tissue, as well as means for rotating said treatment transducer around an axis which intersects said focal point. The device further comprises synchronization means for synchronizing the rotation of the treatment transducer with at least the emission of ultrasound waves from said treatment transducer and/or an additional imaging transducer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for treatment of an organ or tissue of a living being, said device comprising:
 at least one treatment transducer rotatably mounted around an axis, said transducer being adapted for emission of high intensity focused (HIFU) ultrasound waves, 
 said ultrasound waves being focused on a focal point within or on the surface of said organ or tissue; and 
 means for rotating said treatment transducer around said axis, wherein said axis intersects the focal point, such that a rotation of the treatment transducer around the axis does not move the focal point and 
 wherein the device further comprises synchronization means for synchronizing the rotation of the treatment transducer with at least the emission of ultrasound waves of at least one of said treatment transducer and an imaging transducer. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said treatment transducer is rotatable about an axis which is identical with a central propagation axis of said transducer. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said treatment transducer is rotatable about an axis which is perpendicular to a central propagation axis of said transducer and which intersects said focal point. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said treatment transducer is rotatable about an axis which is angled in relation to a central propagation axis of said transducer and which intersects said focal point. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein an additional imaging transducer is co-rotatable with said treatment transducer and has an imaging plane intersecting the focal point of said treatment transducer. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the additional imaging transducer is an ultrasound probe.